Removable cap with depending chamber which encloses a reciprocating valve element



Defl- 1951 0. L. BURROWS 2,579,8

REMOVABLE CAP WITH DEPENDING CHAMBER WHICH ENCLOSES A RECIPROCATING VALVE ELEMENT Filed May 21, 1948 Fig. 2. V

38 lm'entar Dale L. Burrows Patented Dec. 25, 1951 REMOVABLE CAP WITH DEPENDING CHAM- BER WHICH ENCLOSES A RECIPROCATING I VALVE ELEMENT Dale L. Burrows, Hampton, Va.

Application May 21, 1948, Serial No. 28,327

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in salt shakers and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved removable cap for condiment dispensers and more particularly for salt shakers that is so designed as to reduce and eliminate the normal clogging of salt and the like due to the moisture absorbing qualities of the same by permitting the salt to be exposed to the surrounding atmosphere only during the actual discharge of the salt from the dispenser.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a removable cap for condiment dispensers and the like having a delivery opening and embodying a noveland improved gravity actuated valve which will be disposed normally in a closed position to seal the delivery opening and which will be actuated to an open position as the dispenser is inverted for removing the salt therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gravity actuated self -closing condiment dispenser including a cap supporting a gasket that will seal the cap to the open end of the dispenser to prevent the entrance of moisture laden air into the dispenser to effect a clogging of the salt within the dispenser.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a removable cap for condiment dispensers that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, efficient and sanitary in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the condiment shaker constructed in accordance with the present invention, and with parts of the shaker removed therefrom;

Figure 2 is a similar view of Figure 1, and showing the shaker inverted to actuate the valve to an open position;

Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure 1; and,

(Cl. ZZZ-196.2)

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the valve used in conjunction with the present invention, and with parts thereof broken away and shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral Ill represents a closure or shaker cap of a non-corrosive material having a preferably conical upper end portion I21 that is provided with an axial delivery opening I14 which terminates in a flared, annular bearing surface l6. l

Rigidly secured to or forming an integral part of the end portion I2, is a depending cylinder or chamber I8 of non-corrosive material that communicates with the delivery opening l4. The upper end of the chamber 18 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced passages or openings 2!) that lead 'to the delivery opening 14. The openings 211 are disposed at the upper end of the cartridge or chamber Hi to make the salt path through the chamber I 8 as short as possible and thus reduce the possibility of jamming the valve unit, which is designated generally by the numeral 22, by reducing the amount of salt arrested in travel. During the dispensing operation the valve unit 22 causes negligible interference with openings 20 resulting in a dependably constant rate of flow of salt.

It should be noted, that openings 20 have a combined opening area slightly less than the minimum annular area formed by the delivery opening l4 and the stem 24. This is to insure that during the shaking operation more salt will not enter the chamber space than leaves it and such a feature will in turn reduce the possibility of clogging and jamming the valve unit 22.

The valve unit 22 includes a stem 24 having a conical portion 26 from which there projects an externally threaded lug 28 that receiva'bly engages an internally threaded recess 30 provided in a substantially spherical valve head 32. The lower portion 34 of the valve head 32 is reduced and there is provided a concavo-convexed, resilient member 36 that embraces portion 34. The outer surface of the member 36 conforms to the outer surface of the valve head 32.

Integrally formed with the stem 24, is a hollow cylinder or cartridge 38 of a non-corrosive material that is filled with a suitable weight or mass 4i! having a high specific weight such as lead or the like. The function of the mass 40 is to insure that member 36 will be compressed sufficiently against the upper surface of portion 12 to effectively seal the opening H4 in the cap [0.

quantity of salt which is arrested in its travel through the upper end of -the chamber at the end of each dispensing operation. In the dispensing operation the inclined upper edges 43 of the vanes 42 contact the flared portion 16 of the delivery opening [4 to limit the movement of valve unit 22 in one direction. I

It should be noted, that the conical portion 26 serves as a deflector for the falling salt, so that salt collection will have little opportunity "to attach to member 35 thus keeping surface or member 36, relatively clean and .sanitary to insure sealing with the upper portion 42 and closing of opening 14.

Formed with the cap l0, adjacent the internal threads 46 thereof, is an .annular shoulder 48 against which there is seated .an annular gasket or ring 56 that will engage the upper open end 52 of a suitable container or bottle .54 to seal the cap 1'0 to the container .54 :and'which will prevent salt-or the like from becoming lodged in the cap threads which-would prevent convenient removal of the cap.

In View of the foregoing description taken .in

conjunction with "the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be .quite apparent to those skilled in this art. Amore detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same "is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit .of the invention as herein 'describedand the scope .of the appended claims.

ably mounted in said chamber, a hollow plunger carried by said stem and remaining entirely within the chamber during sliding .of said stem, a weight disposed in the plunger, and means carried by the plunger and-remaining in the chamher for guiding the sliding movement thereof and for cleaning the inner walls of the chamber, said passages having a combined area slightly less than the minimum cross-sectional area of said delivery opening, the stem of said valve having a conical portion constituting a deflector for said condiment leaving the delivery opening.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means includes a plurality of elongated scraper fins extending longitudinally of said plunger and projecting radially from the plunger.

3. The combination of claim 1 and means for limiting the sliding movement of said plunger in one direction.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said limiting means includes a sloping surface providedin' said cap intermediate said delivery opening and said chamber for engaging said plunger guiding and chamber cleaning means.

:5. In a condiment dispenser, a cap having a delivery opening therein, a chamber depending 'from said cap and having passages communicating with the delivery opening, a valve normally closing the .delivery opening and having a resilient base portion resting upon the cap, a valve stem secured to said valve and received in said chamber for sliding movement, a .hollow plunger carried by the valve stem and also .received in said chamber for sliding movement with the valve stem, a mass Within said plunger for urging the valve to its closed position, said cap having :an inner surface sloping toward the delivery opening, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially disposed fins carried;by and paralleling the plunger and having .inclined edges for contacting the inner sloping surface ofthe cap to limit the outward sliding 'movement or the valve relative to the cap, said valve stemhaving a conical "portion adjacent said'valve forming a deflector for condiment leaving the delivery opening, said fins extending well into the chamber ,to scrape salt adhering to :the inner walls of the chamber.

DALE .L. BURROWS.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED snares .PATENTS,

France Oct. 26, 1942 

